The First Christmas (1950 Version)

Hi boys and girls, I'm Perry Como,
And I'm gonna tell you the most wonderful story in the whole world,
The Story of the First Christmas!

Now suppose you make believe this is many, many years ago,
A long time before you were born!
You're standing on a hillside, near a little town in Palestine,
Do you see the man in the distance, walking slowly, leading a donkey?
His name is Joseph!
And riding on the donkey is Mary.
They've come a long, long way,
And they're heading for the town near the hillside,
On which we're standing!
Something very special will happen in this town tonight!
For this is the little town of Bethlehem!

Oh little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie,
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep,
The silent stars go by!
Yet in thy dark streets shineth,
The everlasting light!
The hopes and fears of all the years,
Are met in thee tonight!

Now let's follow Joseph and Mary into Bethlehem,
It's getting dark and all the rooms at the Inn are taken,
So they spend the night at a stable.
Now I told you something special was gonna happen, and it did!
A baby boy is born to Mary,
And they called him Jesus.
They had no baby's crib, so Mary puts little Jesus to sleep,
In the soft sweet hay of a manger!

Come, come, come to the manger,
Little Lord Jesus is born on this day!

Now while Jesus lies in the manger asleep,
Let's tiptoe back to the hillside near Bethlehem,
Where the Shepherds tend their flock.
All at once the Shepherds are frightened,
You'd be frightened too,
Because a great light suddenly shines in the sky!
Even the animals are hushed and still,
But then you hear the voice of an Angel of the Lord!
And you're no longer frightened,
For the Angel brings good news,
News of a Saviour born this day,
News of Christ the Lord!

The First Noel! the Angels did say,
Was to certain poor Shepherds,
In fields as they lay,
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!

Now boys and girls,
Remember, we're still making believe we're with the Shepherds and the Angel,
On the hillside near Bethlehem.
The Shepherds ask the Angel,
Where to find the Christ-child ?
And the Angel tells them to go to the manger.
And as they leave the sky is filled with others Angels singing,
Glory to God! On earth Peace, Goodwill, to Men!

The Shepherds hurry to the manger,
Fall on their knees before the baby,
And they worship him!
For He is Christ the Lord!

Oh! Come all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!
Oh Come ye, Oh! Come ye, to Bethlehem!
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels,
Oh! Come let us adore Him,
Oh! Come let us adore Him,
Oh! Come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!

And now, look up into the sky!
See that bright star twinkling in the heavens ?
Far away, three men are looking at that star just as we are!
They're riding on camels,
And they're using the star as a guide to lead them to the Christ-child.
Who are these three men who follow the star ?
Let's find out!

We Three Kings of Orient are,
Bearing gifts, we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star!

That's right boys and girls,
The three men on the camels are the three wise men,
The new star guides them to Bethlehem,
To a little baby lying in a manger!
There the three wise men present gifts to the Christ-child,
The first Christmas gifts ever given to anyone,
A gift of gold, of frankincense, and of Mir!
The wise men fall on their knees to worship Him,
A great peace settles on the night,
For it's the Holy Night!

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright,
'Round yon virgin mother and child,
Holy infant so tender and mild!
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace!

When we celebrate Christmas,
Think of Bethlehem, the Virgin Mary, the three wise men,
And the birth of the Christ-child!
The First Christmas!

Oh! Come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!

Adapted by John A. Richards
with Musical Arrangement by Mitchell Ayres